'How time flies' a niche everyone says when reminiscing the good old days. Something one says at old age. Why do I have to say such words now?
My Uncle Li Yuan had called me just a few minutes after I received news that there was gas poisoning caused by carbon at the mining site. Thinking that something might really have happened to my grandfather. I left the matter to An Qiao, my lawyer and best friend and went straight to the airport. I arrived at the Beijing Airport were butler Ma had been awaiting my arrival. In the car, tiredness overcame weariness and sleep took over. Only for me to wake up in the hospital room, looking at the old face smiling at me.
If only that was it!
"Yeye."
"Rice cake"
"What's wrong? Are you about to cry again? Must you... Ouch! Have I been runover?... Shit"
"Mocking your grandfather after coming back to life. Is this being fillial!" He sighed "Does it still hurt?"
"What happened to me"
What the hell happened? Could it have been an accident? Did I fall into someone's scheme? What! What! What!
Grandfather is taking his time to answer. He only does this when he is trying to hide something.
"Li Chaihong" He stops again
He is hesitating. When a man, as decisive as my grandfather begins to fidget like this, it means a whole mountain is about to collapse on someone. I think it's me. Oh God, please make him spill it all at once.
"Li Chaihong, you are married"
"What!" That scream, was it in my head or did I really scream that loud?
Many questions cross my mind all at once desperate for a pleasing answer. An answer like all of this was a joke, never to be taking seriously. My stomach churned.
I try to calm down and re- enact the words. I haven't had time to tell my grandfather that I had divorced Desmond. He must have more to say. I had overreacted.
Just as I was about to come up with a calm excuse like momentary memory loss...
"Yes, I know about the divorce. Desmond was never a good choice. I understand that it might be too sudden to be married again under such special circumstances but the whole family depends on this marriage. Your Uncle messed up with a strange woman and we were put in a tight spot. Mo Jinsheng offered to honour the engagement that's why I sent for you."
"Wait! Mo Jinsheng?" Shock overtook surprise. Mo Jinsheng, that tall handsome devil that always made all the girls... The one who came to me on my twelveth birthday saying.... Hmmm. What did he say again... Yes!
"Don't take the whole engagement thing serious. By the time you come of age, there will already be someone more mature and of more value by my side. You might even fall in love. Don't such things happen in High school?"
I remember that I was too dumbfounded to reply. I couldn't comprehend half of what he said. When I entered high school, it became clearer. He didn't want the engagement. Since the family didn't mention it, especially when I had lost my parents and the Coperation was going down hill, my uncle had reached out but he had not made a move. Why now? Now that I had married and divorced his cousin?
"Mo Jinsheng and I are married?"
"Yes" That affirmation, I must not think too far ahead.
"So, why am I in this room right now with no memory of such a big event?"
"It wasn't big"
" Oh, grandpa get to the point!" I snapped.
"You had an accident, became quite obedient and lovely....."
I knew deep down that it meant that I became dumber and so the manipulation came easy. My grandfather will always put the Coperation first. He hasn't changed. Although, I love that he is firm and not hypocritical, I still hoped for a genuine love. One far greater than benefits.
I listened on numbly. He rambled about the details and this and that. Then another bomb blasted my innards again.
"Tomorrow is your second wedding anniversary. The Mo's are holding a banquet at Grand Hotel. You fell this morning when you saw Desmond. He returned to attend the banquet"
"Yeye! What year are we?"
"2017. So be..."
"Jeez" My head ached. It was like firecrackers were exploding one after the other it my little brain. I need time to calm down.
"Okay, I understand now. I want to sleep some more. You should also rest, yeye. Butler Yang. Take grandpa home."
"Yes, Miss" the Old butler who had made himself invisible during the long talk held my grandfather's arms and helped him out the door.
Finally, the quiet!
Time had flow so quickly, there's no catching up. I cannot ask for a divorce now of all times. I need to understand my situation properly.
My mother always said life is a game. In this game, I have become passive. My company in Africa, must have also undergone some changes. A change that might have been good or bad. Swamped with so much information, it had slipped my mind to ask about my company and the crises it faced.
The life ahead of me... My path has changed. The way I deal with this change is the way my future will proceed.
Sometimes, I which so deeply that I could close my eyes and reincarnated; but that only happens in books. This is life; A reality.